6 An escape plan

Chapter 6 An escape plan Time seemed to stand still. Yasmin and Min-Jun stood frozen and even the waves outside the lighthouse seemed to fall silent. Perhaps time really had stopped, Yasmin thought. Stopping time was one of DeLay's specialties, after all. The wild-haired villain smiled

mockingly at Yasmin and Min-Jun, and swept a low bow. "I congratulate you on your persistence," he said. "But you are too late. Even now, those useless brothers are packing up their toys and preparing to head back to Ohio." "This isn't over yet, DeLay," said Min-Jun fiercely. "We're taking this propeller back, and you can't stop us!" Tempo zoomed around DeLay's head, squawking furiously. "Get your little bird under control." said DeLay, scowling. "No one likes a bad loser. There's nothing you can do to stop me this time. TIME! Ha!" He scooped up the propeller. Then he whirled around and ran for the stairs, his

robe billowing behind him in a greasy brown cloud. His hand flicked into his pocket. Yasmin glimpsed him throwing what looked like a small pocket watch and heard a familiar sound. Tick, tick, tick. There was a burst of smoke. The top of the lighthouse distorted like a fun house mirror. "Look out!" Yasmin shouted. "He's thrown a Time Crunch!" The wood of the top stair began to warp and curl. Just like the apple in the Wrights' workshop, it was aging and rotting before their eyes. "Follow him!" Min-Jun shouted. He darted for the stairs. "Cuckoo!" shouted Tempo in warning.

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"It's too late, Min-Jun," Yasmin cried. "The stairs aren't safe!" Min-Jun almost stumbled on the top step as it crumbled to dust. Yasmin pulled him back. The long, twisting spiral below them flaked and groaned, breaking into pieces—until with a resounding CRACK it fell away. There was nothing left but a high, yawning space. The Time Crunch had done its deadly work. DeLay's mocking laughter floated up to them from the ground. "How are you going to get out of this one, hmm? There will be no powered flight today, tomorrow, or EVER. I'm going to enjoy watching those brothers go home as failures! Ha ha ha!" Yasmin and Min-Jun rushed to the

edge of the platform on the lighthouse roof. DeLay was bounding away, his robe flying out behind him like a witch's cloak. His laughter rolled through their heads like the sound of the crashing waves on the shore. Min-Jun beat his fist on the rail that encircled the platform they stood on. "I can't believe he got away!" he said, resting his head on his hands. "What are we going to do?" Yasmin frowned at the skipping, flapping figure of the time villain as he raced away down the beach. "He doesn't